Method and apparatus for molding and draining concrete



March 30, 1948- w. F. WILHELM ETAL Y 2,438,528

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING AND DRAINING CONCRETE Filed Sept. 23, 1 944 A 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS- 7Vczrizer 7 Wdkdm,

BY Wizmerzl WzZeZm,

March 30, 1948. w F, wlLHELM ET AL 2,438,528

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING AND DRAINING CONCRETE Filed Sept. 23, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Warmerl" MZ/zaZm,

BY War/"e72 F Wilkehm Patented Mar. 30, 1948 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR MOLDING AND DRAINING CONCRETE Warner F. Wilhelm and Warren F. Wilhelm, Chicago, 111.; said Warner F. Wilhelm assignor to said Warren F. Wilhelm Application September 23, 1944, SerialNo. 555,415

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a new andimproved means for forming concrete structures and more particularly to a novel means and method for accelerating the removal of the excess moisture or zvater from freshly poured concrete plastic mixures.

desired.

drying of the material.

with the least possible delay.

tional problems in setting of the material.

structures.

duced.

by conduits which constitute rope-like-strips made of a suitable pervious mass of material having absorption or adsorption qualities, such as cellulose products, rock wool, fibrous glass materialsiand the like, these conduits being of sufficient thickness to afford a substantial body when These strips may be In the common set- 6 embedded in concrete.

In making concrete, the proper mixture f th placed substantially in the center of the freshly usual ingredients such as sand, stone and other poured concrete at intervals which depend upon aggregates with the cement requires th us of a the particular requirements in each case, the ends liberal amount of water in order to obtain a well 10 bein fr y exposed through the f rm whi h mixed mass which is sufficiently plastic to be hO d t e Concrete in place. readily handled, poured or moulded in any way Since these strips are embedded in the mass While such use of water is essential to of wet concrete, their highly absorptive character obtain proper mixtures and prepare the material draws the W e y Capillary attraction from t e for handling, it is desirable that the excess mois- -l5 mixture or the Water y be drawn y a sip ture or water used in the mixing process be rei aC O W h then proceeds to drain 01f moved as quickly as possible once the mass of mathrough the strips, the ends of which are exterial is placed in the desired form for setting. posed through the end walls of the form. It has It is common knowledge that setting of conbeen found that the thickness of the strips emcrete requires considerable time before forms p oye and the distances at w i h they are sp ed can be removed. The amount of time so required apart influence the rapidity with which this depends on such factors as thickness or depth draining is effected. As an illustration, drains of the material, atmosphere and similar condiof approximately a half inch in diameter spaced tions, which all have a direct bearing upon the at intervals approximately two feet apart would Consequently, it is of work effectively in an ordinary mixture used in essence that the excess Water or moisture used constructing an average Wall. in preparing the mixture be removed or drained Another advantage derived from the use of this invention is that water drained from the ce- The extended use of concrete for numerous mentitious material is filtered by passing through purposes has, in many instances created addithe draining strip without carrying off any, of

For the particles of cement which form the basis of example, in structures such as walls, which are finally solidifying the mass. usually of substantial height, the water contained ting process now in use, some of the valuable in the freshly poured. plastic mass has a tenparticles of cement are carried off by the settling dency to settle quickly, thereby carrying with it of the water, resulting in weakening the structure the finer particles of the mixture causing strata in a corresponding degree. of unequal texture resulting in varying the These and other objects and advantages of the strength of the concrete. Settling or collecting of invention will be apparent from the following water likewise causes areas of weakness in the description and explanation and from the accompanying drawings in which:

It is an object of this invention to provide Figure 1 is a view of a fragmentary section of means for facilitating the drainage or escape of a common concrete form showing the draining excess water beginning relatively immediately, if strips in place; desired, after the mass of plastic concrete has Figure 2 is a view of a fragmentary section of been Placed in its pfirmaheht position, t e eby concrete wall with the form removed and showing preventing the usual collection or settling of wadraining strips in their embedded position; ter in certain areas with its resulting detrimental Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of a section of effect on the durability of the finished product. concrete showing a modified form of the drain- It is a further object of this invention to manuing strip embedded therein; facture concrete by the present method whereby Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a fragthe usual time needed for setting is greatly rement of concrete having exposed therein a further modified form of the draining strip;

The present invention employsv a means of Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the draindraining water from themass of poured concrete ing conduit coated with a wetting agent;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of a section of concrete with draining strips embedded in differ-- ent positions;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view of a section of concrete showing the draining strip supported by attachments embedded within the concrete on one side and having the opposite side exposed evenly with the one wall of the concrete; and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view of a section of concrete with the draining strips placed vertically.

Referring first to Figures 1 and 2 of thedrawings for a detailed description, the end enclosure of a set of concrete forms is designated as l0, and i2 represents the side wall enclosures thereof. End enclosure I0 is provided with openplacing the draining strips in the forms at the time that the plast c mass of cementitious material is poured into the forms for setting.

Figure 3 illustrates a modification of the disclosures shown inFigures 1 and 2. A section of concrete 24 is shown having embedded therei in a flat drainingstrip 26 exposing its free end 28 throughopening 30. This is in all respects similar to the previous illustrat ons except that a fiat draining strip is employed rather than the usual round or rope-like strips. Flat strips may beemployed as desired in certain instances Where such are more adaptable to particular requirements. 7 I

Figure 4 is. a further modification illustrating a cross sect on of concrete 32 having exposed therefrom one end of draining strip 34. It'will be noted that this draining strip employs conwhich renders the strip highly absorptive as these short fibers extend into the concrete and accordingly expose more draining surfaces to the mois- 'ture.

In Figure 5 is illustrated. the draining strip or conduit 36 with an outer coating 34 made with siderable nap or short fibers throughout its length v a wetting agent which serves to expedite the drainage of the water through the conduit as it passes through this coating.

It has also been found desirable in some instances to expedite the draining of excess water from one sect on of the concrete as it is set,

allowing another section to drain less rapidly.

In Figure 6 is shown a section of concrete 38 having a draining strip 40 disposed in the concrete throughout only a-portion of its length. A further .drainage strip 42 is shown disposed throughout the length of the concrete wall and embeddednear the bottom thereof with its free end disposed upwardly from the main position.

This allows the draining of moisture from the verybottom of the concrete mass and at the same time allows'th e conduit to drain through a portion above the main level of the conduit. It is, of course, understood that the exposed free end of the conduit or draining strip 42 is placed at a lower point than that of the main body of the strip within the concrete, thereby allowing for draining by capillary attraction or siphon action to'the lowest point,

It has also been found that these draining strips can be attached to the innner walls of the forms on either or both sides. -Figure '7 shows a fragmentary section of a section of concrete 44 with a draining strip 46 supported by attachments 48. These attachments can be made of wood or metal and when the form is ultimately removed after the setting of the concrete, they also serve as means for attaching fixtures, lathes, lumber, or the like.

Figure 8 shows a further modified form of a section of concrete with the draining strips or conduits embedded vertically in the concrete. By so disposing the conduits or draining strips the pouring of concrete is simplified in that they hang downwardly in the forms and will not be easily broken or displaced when the concrete is poured since the free ends hang over the outside of the form and below the lowest portion of the strips. Capillary attraction will also serve to draw off the excess water in this fashion.

In preparing forms for the concrete, the usual procedure can be employed in addition to'which 'holes should be provided at'the ends of such 'forms or at such other places as are suitable.

These holes should, of course, be limited to a diameter or size substantially equal to that of the strips to be employed. Since concrete mixture is heavy and the strips are of a light construction due to the cellulose pervious material or other material of Which they are made, it is desirable to place them in the forms as they are filled. The usual procedure would be to pour a layer of plastic concrete into the forms up to the height of the holes provided in the forms. Then the draining strips are placed upon this concrete and each end is exposed through the openings provided therefor at the ends of the forms.

Having thus placed the first draining strips. additional concrete is poured'to the desired predetermined height where additional holes are provided in the forms and the same process is.

repeated. This procedure is then duplicated as often or as required to afford sufiicient drains for the particular demands of the unit being constructed.

Once the concrete has hardened to its desired strength and the forms have been removed, the free ends of the draining strips may be cut off slightly within from the outer surface of the concrete nd the openin s can be closed by fillin them with a small mixture of cement or other material. a r V It is also contemplated that the draining strips may be chemically or otherwise treated prior to bein mbedded in the concrete whereby they can be burned or otherwise dissolved after the draining has been completed and the strips dried. This would leave conduits in' the walls which could be used for electric cables, pipes or similar equipment. Convenient outlets could be provided at intervals totap the cables or pipes for any desired use. a

While we have herein described and upon the drawings shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may comprehend otherconstructions, arrangements of parts, details and features without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for forming structural elements, comprising one or more forms providing a space within the same to receive a body of plastic concrete and at least one loodyofpervio-us material disposedwithin and communicating with the exterior of said one or more forms and adapted to be embedded within a body of plastic concrete disposed within said space, said body of pervious material comprising a rope-like drainage strip of cellulose, whereby water from said body of plastic concrete is disposed of exteriorly of said wall by passage through said drainage strip of pervious material, and means for supporting said drainage strip within said forms.

2. The method of forming concrete and similar bodies within a form from a plastic mix including a hydrating material and water in excess of that required for hydration setting comprising, embedding a portion of a strip of wick-like, water absorptive, cellulosic material having a capillary characteristic wholly within and in water absorptive contact with the body of plastic mix within the form with an end portion of the strip exposed to the atmosphere at the exterior surface of the said form, whereby to drain excess water from the mix.

3. A method of forming concrete structures, comprising the steps of providing a mold having an opening therein adapted to receive plastic concrete and being of the desired shape and size, incorporating within said mold a body of pervious and flexible material comprising a drainage strip, having drainage relationship with the exterior of said mold, causing a quantity of plastic concrete to be introduced into said mold in embedding relation to said body of pervious material, introducing successive drainage strips and additional quantities of plastic concrete, effecting dissipation of excess water by capillary attraction from said plastic concrete to the exterior of said mold through said bodies of pervious material, removing said mold after the plastic concrete has solidified.

4. A method of forming concrete structures, comprising the steps of providing a mold adapted to receive plastic concrete, incorporating within said mold a drainage strip of flexible, pervious material at a point away from and between the side Walls of said mold, causing said drainage strip to have communication with the exterior of said mold, causing a quantity of plastic concrete to be introduced into said mold in embedding relationship to said flexible drainage strip whereby Water is drained from said plastic concrete through said drainage strip by capillary attraction, removing said mold after the plastic concrete has solidified.

WARNER F. WILHEIM. WARREN F. WILHELM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

